WiiWare and VC for 10/27/08. (Strongbad, meet Earthworm!)

WII-KLY UPDATE: TWO WIIWARE GAMES AND ONE VIRTUAL CONSOLE GAME ADDED TO WII SHOP CHANNEL

Oct. 27, 2008

It's a rockin' week at the WiiTM Shop Channel, featuring fresh additions to two hot WiiWareTM game series, plus a character-driven cIassic for the Virtual ConsoleTM. Fans of Strong Bad's Cool Game for Attractive People will find an awesome new installment, while those who've discovered Nintendo's extraordinary Art StyIeTM series will discover an elegant new puzzle title to enjoy. And if you've got room in your game library for a heroic earthworm, don't miss the Wii debut of the legendary Earthworm JimTM.

Nintendo adds new and cIassic games to the Wii Shop Channel at 9 a.m. Pacific time every Monday. Wii owners with a high-speed Internet connection can redeem Wii PointsTM to download the games. Wii Points can be purchased in the Wii Shop Channel or at retail outlets. This week's new games are:

WiiWare

Strong Bad Episode 3: Baddest of the Bands (Telltale Games, 1 player, Rated E10+ for Everyone 10 and Older - Alcohol Reference, Crude Humor, Mild Cartoon Violence, Mild Suggestive Themes, 1,000 Wii Points): Rock and roll! Hurting for cash, Strong Bad sets out to dominate the "Battle Royale of the Bands." Can he rule the stage and win the big prize? Or will he be drowned out by the competition? Find out in this high-voltage episode.

Art StyIe: ROTOHEX (Nintendo, 1-2 players, Rated E for Everyone, 600 Wii Points): Use colored triangular panels to create a vibrant mosaic of stained glass in Art StyIe: ROTOHEX. As triangles fall from the top of the screen, rotate them to group six panels of the same color and create a matching hexagon, or HEX. Once the HEX has been formed, it will disappear, allowing the existing panels to shift and more panels to fill the playing field. A clear-cut goal and two different styIes of intuitive controls allow you to focus solely on the game play-which is vital, as the playing field will be full of panels before you know it. With multiple modes (unlock more as you progress further in SOLO mode), special item panels at your disposal, and the ability to play cooperatively or competitively with a friend, there will always be another HEX to create.

**Not a screenshot of Rotohex WiiWare, but the GBA game it is based upon!**

Virtual Console

Earthworm Jim (Sega Genesis, 1 player, Rated E for Everyone - Animated Violence, 800 Wii Points): Jim was an ordinary earthworm who did very earthworm-like things, such as flee from crows and eat dirt. One day, during an outer space fight, a suit drops to Earth and falls around Jim. It mutates him into a large and intelligent (at least by earthworm standards) superhero. Play as Jim in this Sega Genesis cIassic. When Jim learns of the evil plans of Psy-Crow and Queen Slug-for-a-Butt, he decides to rescue Princess What's-Her-Name. Run, gun, swing on hooks by your head and launch cows at the interesting characters you meet along the way, such as Major Mucus, Chuck and Fifi, Evil the Cat, and Bob the Killer Goldfish.

**Not a screenshot of Earthworm Jim, but of GME in his Hallwoeen costume circa 1997!**

For more information about Wii, please visit wii.com.

Nice!

Though I always preferred the Super Nintendo version of Earthworm Jim.

Nice!

Though I always preferred the Super Nintendo version of Earthworm Jim.

thebisonx

Nice!

Though I always preferred the Super Nintendo version of Earthworm Jim.

thebisonx

Yeah, Earthworm Jim's a great game. But I'd also prefer the SNES version. I may not download it now.

Earthworm Jim! Wow!

I have to buy it.

One trip to hardcore gaming 101 brings up this comparison:

Earthworm Jim was initially released on the Genesis and Super Nintendo. The Super Nintendo version has better graphics, with more defined colors and lots of extra special effects, and nearly all of the stages have an extra level of background scrolling. The Genesis version isn't quite as nice, as the backgrounds have a dithered look to them, but it still looks pretty excellent, plus it has one extra stage, Intestinal Distress. The explanation behind this was that the Genesis version was more easily compressed and had the room for the bonus level. Both versions also have different sound synth, and while the SNES version has better (and in some cases, different) digitized samples, the difference in the soundtrack is more a matter of taste.

The article was written Oct 10th, so he did a great job predicting the right time to bring this platformer to our attention!

The article was written Oct 10th, so he did a great job predicting the right time to bring this platformer to our attention!

SirSpudly

Hm? I think that's a little odd that it says the SNES version is better looking, because the pic on the left (Genesis) looks better to me than the pic on the right (SNES):

Well here's a little bit of trivia. As it says there, cows play a prominent part in Earthworm Jim. Additionally, it says that Shiny Entertainment's next game, MDK, allowed you to collect Jim's head icons, which drop cows on your enemy. It also says that BioWare made the sequel to Shiny's MDK. What it doesn't mention is that another BioWare game, Neverwinter Nights, also allows you to rain down cows on your enemies with a special cheat: dm_cowsfromhell (though that may also be a reference to the indy movie "Zadar! Cow from Hell")

[QUOTE="SirSpudly"]

The article was written Oct 10th, so he did a great job predicting the right time to bring this platformer to our attention!

clicketyclick

Hm? I think that's a little odd that it says the SNES version is better looking, because the pic on the left (Genesis) looks better to me than the pic on the right (SNES):

Well here's a little bit of trivia. As it says there, cows play a prominent part in Earthworm Jim. Additionally, it says that Shiny Entertainment's next game, MDK, allowed you to collect Jim's head icons, which drop cows on your enemy. It also says that BioWare made the sequel to Shiny's MDK. What it doesn't mention is that another BioWare game, Neverwinter Nights, also allows you to rain down cows on your enemies with a special cheat: dm_cowsfromhell (though that may also be a reference to the indy movie "Zadar! Cow from Hell")

im GLAD we got the genesis version, especially after getting crapped on by getting the NES version of double dragon, the SMS version is the bomb

[QUOTE="SirSpudly"]

The article was written Oct 10th, so he did a great job predicting the right time to bring this platformer to our attention!

clicketyclick

Hm? I think that's a little odd that it says the SNES version is better looking, because the pic on the left (Genesis) looks better to me than the pic on the right (SNES):

Well, as they say, it comes down to preference. And while they both do look good, I prefer the SNES version myself. It's a little bit easier on the eyes.

But yeah, it's like comparing a one day old orange to a one day young orange, they're both ripe enough.

Also, on a side note, I bought my Wii Points card last week in anticipation of getting Tetris and SBCG4AP, not stopping to think "hey, maybe Earthworm Jim will come out next week, I should get another card!" I was a fool. And now I'm a fool with no Earthworm Jim. :(

Cool! I've been waiting for Jim to pop up. I have great times playing the games, watching the show, and playing with the toys. I'll go download it...

Next week: Boogerman!

I would love to see Toadster even try to complain about this week's VC. :wink: TwilightSoilder

If I know Toadster as much as I think I do, He'll find something to complain about :P.

Ill probably try this "art style" game.

Why can't Nintendo actually put effort into one of their own Wii Ware releases instead of shoving puzzle games down are throats?

lulz, just kidding. :P

Or am I!?

Earthworm FTW though. Also, who was the person who said he'd prefer the SNES version? The SNES version has NOTHING over the Genesis version. In fact, the Genesis version has an extra level.